SS Remus
SS Remus 23/02/1918
Displacement: 1079 grt.
Length: 67.4 m. Beam: 10.4 m. Draught: 3.98 m.
Propulsion: 1 x 3 cyl. Triple expansion steam engine, two boilers, single shaft, 1 screw
Machinery: Ross & Duncan, Govan.
Complement: ?? officers and men.
Men Lost: 5
Armament: Yes
Displacement: 1079 grt.
Length: 67.4 m. Beam: 10.4 m. Draught: 3.98 m.
Propulsion: 1 x 3 cyl. Triple expansion steam engine, two boilers, single shaft, 1 screw
Machinery: Ross & Duncan, Govan.
Complement: ?? officers and men.
Men Lost: 5
Armament: Yes
The steel steamship SS Remus was built by Fullerton J & Co, Paisley in 1908. 1079 tons, 67.36m x 10.41m x 3.98m.
At the time of loss the SS Remus was owned by Wadsworth G.B. Goole and was registered in Goole.
Wadsworth G.B. House Flag
ADM 171/197. Naval Medal and Award Rolls 1793-1972/WW1 Medals & Awards/Service lists of Naval Ships
ADM 137/3395: Loss of SS REMUS Enquiry was obtained by the Lost In Waters Deep Project:
On the 23rd February 1918, at 7 a.m. the S.S Remus left Longhope under sealed orders with a cargo of coal. The vessel was to proceed to a point off Stanger Head and meet with an escorting trawler.
At 8.20 a.m S.S Remus met with the escorting trawler HMT Cuckoo. SS Remus was then ordered to proceed to a point approx 10 cables off Lowther Rock, head north and when passed the Pentland Skerries to zig-zag and head into Kirkwall via the swept channel.
Approximately four miles SW of Auskerry the officer of the watch, John Macleod, reported to the skipper of SS Remus, Joseph Lea, the strange behaviour of a flock of seagulls to the NW of the ship's position. The skipper said to the inquiry that ''when I was at the Gunnery School, Chatham, I was told that seagulls congregating and making strange noises tells when a submarine is about and I never saw seagulls behave in such a peculiar manner as they did on this occasion''.
At 10.20. a.m. when 4 miles SW of Copinsay, there was an explosion on the port side in the vicinity of the engine room. A large quantity of coal, timber and machinery were thrown 30 feet into the air. The port side lifeboat was destroyed in the explosion. Immediately the vessel commenced to sink.
On the 23rd February 1918, at 7 a.m. the S.S Remus left Longhope under sealed orders with a cargo of coal. The vessel was to proceed to a point off Stanger Head and meet with an escorting trawler.
At 8.20 a.m S.S Remus met with the escorting trawler HMT Cuckoo. SS Remus was then ordered to proceed to a point approx 10 cables off Lowther Rock, head north and when passed the Pentland Skerries to zig-zag and head into Kirkwall via the swept channel.
Approximately four miles SW of Auskerry the officer of the watch, John Macleod, reported to the skipper of SS Remus, Joseph Lea, the strange behaviour of a flock of seagulls to the NW of the ship's position. The skipper said to the inquiry that ''when I was at the Gunnery School, Chatham, I was told that seagulls congregating and making strange noises tells when a submarine is about and I never saw seagulls behave in such a peculiar manner as they did on this occasion''.
At 10.20. a.m. when 4 miles SW of Copinsay, there was an explosion on the port side in the vicinity of the engine room. A large quantity of coal, timber and machinery were thrown 30 feet into the air. The port side lifeboat was destroyed in the explosion. Immediately the vessel commenced to sink.
The Chief Engineer, Harry Clarke and a fireman were killed in the engine room by the explosion. Another fireman was seen floating around the after deck.
The Second Mate, Thomas Kitwood was last seen at the aft end of the ship.
Chief Officer John Macleod and fireman Martin Morrisroe could not reach the starboard lifeboat, as the stern was settling, so ran forward and threw a 9 foot plank overboard, jumped in and grabbed hold of it. After a while Martin Morrisroe appeared to be seized by cramp, released his grip of the plank and sank.
A.B. Horace Melville Willis got blown out of the galley into the sea. He grabbed hold of a life-ring but saw three other sailors struggling so passed it to them saying ''Take this, I will do the best for myself''. For this brave action A.B. Willis was recommended for the Albert Medal 2nd class but there is no record of this being awarded.
The Starboard lifeboat capsized but was righted and seven of the crew managed to climb in.
HMT Cuckoo proceeded to SS Remus and first recovered the chief Officer then the four other men from the water before rescuing the men in the life-boat.
A search was conducted for the missing five men but the cook James Farquhar was badly injured so the trawler headed back to Scapa Flow.
James Farquhar and four other injured men were landed on the Hospital Ship HMHS Soudan, the other seven were landed on HMS Imperieuse.
The Second Mate, Thomas Kitwood was last seen at the aft end of the ship.
Chief Officer John Macleod and fireman Martin Morrisroe could not reach the starboard lifeboat, as the stern was settling, so ran forward and threw a 9 foot plank overboard, jumped in and grabbed hold of it. After a while Martin Morrisroe appeared to be seized by cramp, released his grip of the plank and sank.
A.B. Horace Melville Willis got blown out of the galley into the sea. He grabbed hold of a life-ring but saw three other sailors struggling so passed it to them saying ''Take this, I will do the best for myself''. For this brave action A.B. Willis was recommended for the Albert Medal 2nd class but there is no record of this being awarded.
The Starboard lifeboat capsized but was righted and seven of the crew managed to climb in.
HMT Cuckoo proceeded to SS Remus and first recovered the chief Officer then the four other men from the water before rescuing the men in the life-boat.
A search was conducted for the missing five men but the cook James Farquhar was badly injured so the trawler headed back to Scapa Flow.
James Farquhar and four other injured men were landed on the Hospital Ship HMHS Soudan, the other seven were landed on HMS Imperieuse.
HMHS Soudan HMS Imperieuse.
Neither the lookouts on S.S Remus or H.M.T Cuckoo saw a submarine.
The skipper of H.M.T. Cuckoo, R.G Bensley, reported to the enquiry that he thought S.S. Remus had been torpedoed as the explosion did not seem large enough to be a mine.
S.S Remus had actually struck a mine laid by UC-59 (Kapitänleutnant Herbert Lefholz) on February 14, 1918. Four mines were laid between 58°50.8'N, 2°44.2'W and 58°52.3'N, 2°45.2'W.
Neither the lookouts on S.S Remus or H.M.T Cuckoo saw a submarine.
The skipper of H.M.T. Cuckoo, R.G Bensley, reported to the enquiry that he thought S.S. Remus had been torpedoed as the explosion did not seem large enough to be a mine.
S.S Remus had actually struck a mine laid by UC-59 (Kapitänleutnant Herbert Lefholz) on February 14, 1918. Four mines were laid between 58°50.8'N, 2°44.2'W and 58°52.3'N, 2°45.2'W.
The Wreck
MBES of SS Remus. Image: Netsurvey/UKHO
The wreck of the SS Remus sits in 58m at 58°50,591'N 002°45,393'W. The wreck was located by Netsurvey in 2007.
Lost Crew †23/02/1918
CLARKE, HARRY (27), First Engineer, Mercantile Marine, Son of Henry and Eva Clarke; husband of Eva Clarke (nee Dowson), of 61, Carter St., Goole. Born at Goole, Yorkshire,
HOUGHTON, GEORGE (41), Fireman, Mercantile Marine,, Son of Joseph and Ellen Houghton; husband of Blanche Ethel Houghton (nee Gibson), of 23, Gordon St., Goole, Yorkshire. Born at Goole, Yorkshire,
KITWOOD, THOMAS HERBERT (31), Second Mate, Mercantile Marine, Son of James Pitts Kitwood and Lillian Kitwood; husband of Louisa Annie Kitwood (nee Reynolds), of 25, Elsie St., Goole, Yorkshire. Born at Goole, Yorkshire.
Goole, East Riding of Yorkshire.
Photo: Retired QA
MORRISROE, MARTIN (47), Fireman, Mercantile Marine, Husband of Catherine Morrisroe (nee Knight), of 20, Vermuyden Terrace, Goole. Born at Goole, Yorkshire.
PIERSON, JOHN WILLIAM (37), Fireman, Mercantile Marine, Son of the late Robert Pierson and Mary Jane Skinner (formerly Pierson, nee Jackson). Born at Goole, Yorkshire.
Goole, East Riding of Yorkshire. Photo: Retired QA
Memorial
Tower Hill Memorial
